GREEN councillor Brian Heatley has questioned whether continuing economic growth is compatible with Dorset Council’s declared climate and ecological emergency.

But his argument won no support and failed to even start a debate at the Conservative-controlled Cabinet meeting.

Cllr Heatley argued that it might be better to consider the council’s economic growth strategy and its climate change proposals together – rather than consider both sets of proposals separately.

“We have two aims, one which I will call preserving the planet so that it can continue to support human life and civilisation, the other economic growth, that is that the parts of our activities that fall within the definition of GDP should grow. Are they compatible? Some say we can preserve the planet and continue to grow the economy as a whole. Others, including many environmentalists, say that we can only preserve the planet if the economy stops growing or even gets smaller,” he told the meeting.

He said that it might be better to grow those parts of the economy that are sustainable and reduce those parts that are not.

“We can still aim to have an economic strategy, we simply don't commit ourselves to an economic growth strategy,” he said.

But business brief holder Cllr Gary Suttle said the county needed to press on with the economic growth strategy.

He said that there were a number of areas where the local economy could be stimulated by investment in environmental projects: “It is not a fact that economic growth has by definition a detrimental effect on the environment. This occurs where there is failure to consider the future of this planet and Dorset council is committed to ensuring that this does not happen,” he said.

He said that economic growth could both improve the environment and give work and wages to people who lived in the county.

“It is time for action now, further delay cannot benefit those who need our help the most particularly in the context of the covid 19 pandemic and the impact that this has had on the economy. People’s income and livelihoods are under threat, it is important that we agree the strategy today to enable us to have the tool to help and to put in place the much needed action plans,” he said.

The strategy was agreed unanimously.